Syrian authorities are preparing a war crimes case against Fadi Saqr, a former militia leader within the Assad regime, accused of involvement in crimes against humanity and mass killings of civilians in the Tadamon neighborhood of Damascus, a senior Syrian official has told the Guardian.
Background and Allegations
Saqr, a former commander of the National Defence Forces (NDF) militia, is widely accused of involvement in the mass killing and forcible disappearance of civilians in Tadamon and other parts of Damascus. After Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December 2024, Syria's new government collaborated with Saqr on security files, sparking anger among victims seeking accountability.
Zahra al-Barazi, deputy chair of the National Commission for Transitional Justice and an adviser in Syria's foreign ministry, said the commission is working with victims to build a case against Saqr. Although appointed by the government, the commission is independent and will refer its findings to the Syrian judiciary, which will decide whether to pursue the case.
Importance of Transitional Justice
Judicial proceedings against Saqr would be a significant milestone for Syria, which has struggled to establish transitional justice after more than a decade of war left hundreds of thousands dead. Experts say a proper process could help stem intercommunal violence, which has continued with sectarian massacres since Assad's fall.
Al-Barazi stated: "There is absolutely enough evidence against Saqr. We are also working with organisations who have documented a lot of these things. He was useful for certain reasons and he's no longer useful. No one is above the law."
Arrest of Amjad Youssef
Last week, Syrian authorities arrested Amjad Youssef, a main perpetrator in the Tadamon massacres. Videos found on his laptop documented the killing of nearly 300 civilians by regime forces in 2013. The Guardian published footage in 2022 showing Youssef ordering blindfolded civilians to run while he shot at them, pushing them into a pit, and burning their corpses.
While Youssef has become notorious, Tadamon residents insist there were many more perpetrators, including NDF members led by Saqr. During celebrations of Youssef's arrest, they called for Saqr to be detained.
Ahmed al-Homsi, an activist with the Tadamon Coordination Committee, said: "Amjad was just a foot soldier compared to Fadi Saqr. In Tadamon, nothing happened without orders from Fadi Saqr, whether it was the robberies, the arrests, the disappearances or the killings."
Saqr's Denial
Saqr has denied responsibility, telling the Guardian he "only learned of the massacre through the media" and "trusted the judicial process." He said, "Anyone proven to have committed crimes against humanity must be punished."
However, the Guardian reviewed unpublished videos of killings carried out by Youssef and NDF personnel in October 2013, four months into Saqr's tenure as NDF commander. Prof Uğur Ümit Üngör, an academic who obtained the videos, said: "The Tadamon massacre was not a single event, but a process of mass killing throughout 2013 and beyond. The NDF participated, and Saqr, whatever his personal involvement, was part of the chain of command."
Public Outrage and Government Justification
Tadamon residents have expressed outrage at the new government's collaboration with Saqr. Maher Rahima, a survivor, said: "If the officials had seen what I saw in Tadamon, they would be ashamed to protect Fadi Saqr."
The government has justified working with figures like Saqr by citing the need to balance justice with stability during the transition. Saqr has helped liaise with remnants of the Assad regime mounting a low-level insurgency.
Al-Barazi said plans to build a case against Saqr have been in place for months, and the political cost of keeping him onboard increased. Youssef's arrest "helped push this to the forefront." She visited Tadamon residents, inviting them to join forces in building a case and explaining witness protection measures.
It is ultimately up to the Syrian judiciary to issue an arrest warrant, but al-Barazi said she has "heard of no resistance" to the plans. In Tadamon, the prospect of Saqr facing justice has given new hope. Al-Homsi said: "Fadi Saqr's arrest would be way bigger than that of Amjad Youssef. It would be like a second liberation day."
